Cotton-picker&#39;s truck



Y June 16, 1925.

J. L. AZBILL coTToN PICKERS TRUCK e Smets-sheep 1 Filed Jan. 22 123 Jzazgm.

- Junefls, 1925.

J. L. AZBILL coTToN PICKERS vTRUCK Filed Jan. 2,2'. 11923 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 JLAZzZZaW/m a Hom/wu:

J. L. AZBILL COTTON PICKERVS TRUCK June 16 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 2?.. 1923 mventoz J. l.. A`zB|LL COTTON PICKERSy TRUCK Filed Jan.

June 16, 1925.

NNN NNN \\N 1923 Sh ts-Sheet 4 3 nveyvtoz Sra/ A. n y F;

G Nici/na las Patented J une 16, 1925.

UNITED STAT/12s PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. AZBILL, or LEXINGTON, TENNEssEE,` AssIGNon or ONE-HALE To J. w.f

ROBERTS, or LEXINGTON, TENNESSEE.

` COTTON-PICKERS TRUCK.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

Beit known that I, Jol-1N L. AZBTLAL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the countyof Henderson and State of Tennessee, have invented a `new and' useful CottonPickers Truck, of which the following is a specification. l

rlhis invention aims to provide 'a simple form of truck which maybe drawn along by a person who is picking` cotton, it being unnecessary to drag the cotton sack over the ground, novelmeans being provided vfor steering the vehicle, and novel means being provided for assembling the vehicle with the body of the operator, in such a way that the body of the operator will be supported yieldingly.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the cotton may be picked by suction, novel means being provided for propelling the truck and for starting and stopping the truck, at the will of an operator.

it is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other lobjects in view, which will appear asthe description lproceeds,.the invention resides in the combinationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, within the scope of what` is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment fof the invention shown canbe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

.ln the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, a device constructed in accordance with thejinvention; Figure 2 is a top plan wherein parts havebeen omitted; Figure 3 is a front ele-4 vation wherein parts have been omitted; Figure 4 isa section' on the line 4544 of Figure 3; Figure 5 ,is a vside elevation showing a modified form ofthe invention; Figure G is atop plan; Figure 7 is a cross section on the line 7--7 of Figure 5; lFigure 8 is a section on `the line 8%-8 of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a sectional view illustrating the clutch mechanism and associated details; Figure 10 is a fragmental plan showing the lever which operates the clutch; Figure 11A is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 10. In carrying out the invention, there 1s provided a main frame .1 including a top Vmember, which maybe made up of parallel ends 3, a securing element 5 passing through the bars 2 and the corresponding spacer 4, securing elements 6 and 7 passing through the depending, laterally extended ends 3 of the bars 2, and through the corresponding spacers, the spacers andthe securing elements constituting ties which unite the `bars 2 and theirends 3. Rear ground wheels 8 are journaled on the lower extremities of the depending ends 3 of the bars 2..

f An arched member 9 is suppliedand may be made up of angle elements. The arched member 9 embodies a bridge 10 and stand` ards 11, the standards being `vertically disposed and having inwardly extended arms 12 overlappedv upon the bridge 10 and held thereto by securing elements 14, the bridge 10 and the arms l2 of the standards 11 being supplied with a plurality of openings 15 adapted to receivethe securing elements14, thereby to adjust the width of the machine at the forward end thereof. The forwardv ends of the bars 2 of the top member are connected at 91 to the bridge 10.

Vertical shafts 16 are located in the angles of the standards 11 and are journaled in At their` bearings 17 on the standards. lower ends, the shafts 16 have outwardly extended axles 18`whereonforward ground Wheels 19 are journaled, and since the width of the machine, at the forward end thereof, may be varied as hereinbefore explained, the

distance between the forward ground wheels i 19 may be adjusted accordingly.- The shafts 1G extend upwardly through the arms 12 of the standards 11 and are journaled therein,

the upper extremities of the shafts carrying rearwardly extended crank arms 20, whereunto the ends of a longitudinally extensible drag link 2l are pivoted at 22, the drag link being extensible, so thatthe length thereof may be adjusted when the width ofthe arched member 9 is decreased or increased to vary the distance between the forward ground wheels 19. The drag link `2l may consist of overlapped parts having a plurality of openings 23 adapted to receive securing devices 24. i A bearing 25 1s mounted on the intermediate portion of the bridge 10, and therein a vertically disposed, upwardly extended shaft 26 is journaled, the shaft beingl supplied adjacent to its lower end with a rearwardly extended crank arm 27 which is pivoted at 2S to the intern'iediate portion of the drag link 21. Adjacent to its upper end, the vertical shaft 26 is journaled in a bearing 29 sustained by downwardly diver-ging braces 30 held upon the bars 2 of the main frame 1 by the securing element 5. This securing element 5y retains, likewise, the upper ends of downwardly diverging braces 31 which are connected at their lower ends, as indicated at 50, to the standards 11. rThe upper end of the shaft 26 carries a forwardly extended support 32 whereon is mount-` ed a frame 33, adapted to carry a canopy, shown in dotted line 1n Figure 1. rlhe 'upper end of a depending retractile spring Sel, of considerable strength, is attached to the supportv 32, the lower end of the spring` carrying a harness 35.

. The rear end of a tongue 36 is secured to the spacer l which is carried by the securing element 7 and extends forwardly. To the forward end of the ton eue 36, a towing` element, such as astrappi", is attached. Any suitable means may be provided for connecting the towingelement 3T to the body of the operator. If preferred, the towing element v37 may be formed into a loop 3S held by a buckle 39. The element 3T and the tongue 36 form a draft means for the truck or vehicle. The truck or vehicle is adapted to carry a picking sack (not. shown), and with this end in view, suspension members 10, which may be flexible straps, are connected to one of the bars 2, the suspension members being formed into loops, held on the other of the bars 2 by buckles 41-1 or the like. The suspension members 110 are secured as atI L12, intermediate their ends, to the tongue 36, the side portions of the suspension members being secured at -13 to rigid barsor supports la which extend horizontally, it being obvious that within the cage formed by the tongue 36, the suspension members l0 and the rbars 44', the picking sack4 may be located and supported.

The harness 35 yand the spring 3st serve to support the body of the operator during the picking operation, the truck or vehicle being drawn along by means of the towing elementl 37 and parts associated therewith. henthe body of the operator is swungl laterally, rotation will be imparted to the shaft 26 by way of the support or. arm 32 and when the shaft 26 is rotated, the crank arm 27 on the shaft coacting` with thedrag link 21 and the crank arms 2O of the shafts 16,`

will impart rocking movement to the shafts, the angle between the forward wheels 19 and the draft line being` altered, and a steering of the vehicle thus being brought about.

The general construction of the device is such that it is unnecessary for the operator to drag the picking sack over the ound, in accordance with a known practice, the cotton, having been picked, being cast rearwardly into the sack (not shown) which is supporte(V by the parts 36, -l-t) and #i1-t.

Passing to the forni shown in Figures 5 to l11., the truck'is of the general form hereinbefore described, and parts hei'einbefore alluded to have been designated by numerals previously used, with the suii'ix (L.

The prime mover 100, such as an internal combustion engine, is mounted on the frame bars 2a of the vehicle. yl`he shaft 101 of the engine is connected by beveled pinions 102 with a vertical shaft 103 journaled in au upper bearing 10dA and in a lower bearing 105 carried by the frame work of the machine. The rear wheels 3fl of the vehicle are secured to an axle 106, journaled in the depending ends 3a of the frame bars 2". A sleeve 14T is rotatable on the axle 106, and is held against 'movement longitudinally of the axle by a collar 141-3 on the axle. The sleeve 145i' carries a worin wheel 1027 cooperating with a worm 10S on the vertical shaft 103. The sleeve 14T has a clutch member 119, adapted to cooperate with a clutch member 11T splined at 11S to the axle 106, for rotation therewith and foi.l longitudinal movement thereon. A retractile spring 126 is connected to the clutch member 11T and to a shoulder 121 on the axle 106, and tends to retract the -clutch member 11T out of engagement with the clutch member 149. A support 10i) connects the depending frame parts 3, a bell crank lever being l'ulcrumed upon the support 109. The bell crank lever 11() includes a rearwardly extended arm 112 and a transversely extended arni 11-1, the arm 112 having a depending finger 115 received .in a circumscribing groove 116 formed in the clutch member 117. A tongue 36l is pivoted at 119 to the transverse arm 11-t of the bell crank lever 110.

The sack 122 is detaehably connected at 123 to a head 121-, the sack and the head constituting a receptacle for the cotton. The

, head 12e is supported from the frame bars 2"L by hangers 125. As shown in Figure 8, the head 124i is provided with a forwardly prolonged extension 126 wherein a transveise screen 12T is located. the spout 128 extending through the screen. rlllie shaft 129 is jonrnaled in the forward end of the extension 126 and in the head 124e, the shaft carrying' a rotatable inen'iber 130, comprising a plurality of radia blades, the said rotatable.ineinber being l cated between the screen 12T and the forward end of the extension 126. The shaft. 12S) carries a sprocket wheel 131, about which is engaged a chain 132.y cooperating with the sprocket wheel 133 on shaft 135 journaled at 136 in bearings on the frame of the truck. Sprocketwheels 137 and a chain 13S establish connection between the shaft 101 of the engine 100 and the shaft 135.

A combined suction and blower 139 is mounted on the frame bars 2, A blast con duit 140 leads from the suction and blower device 139 and communicates with the foie ward end of the extension 120 on the head 124, asishown in Figure 3, the blast conduit discharging transversely of the rotatable member 130 into the spout128. A suction conduit 141 connects the member 139 with the extension 120, the suction` conduit entering the extension to the rear ofk the screen 127. A flexible tube 142is mounted in the end ofthe extension 126, the rotatable member 130 operating between the rear end of the tube 142 and the lower end of the suction conduitv 141. Owing to the fact that the rotatable member 130 comprises a plurality of radial blades, the'suction through the conduit 141 andthrough the tube 142 willin nowise be. interfered with by the blast proceeding through the conduit 140 into the spout 128. The fiexible tube 142 `is connected to a header 143, carriedV by and constituting a part of the harness 35a, the spring 34a being connected to the header, as shown in Figure 5. Flexible tubes 144 are eX tended late 'ally from the header' 143 and are secured at 145 to the wrists of the operator, the harness 35 being mounted on the back ofthe operator. The tubes 142 terminate in suction heads 146 which are adapted to be located in the palms of the hands of the operator.

In practical operation, the cotton is drawn through the suction heads 146, and passes by way of the tubes 144 and the header 143 into the conduit or tube142, responsive to the suction created by the member 139 in the conduit 141. The cotton in front of the screen 127 is picked up by the rotatable member 130 and is carried downwardly into the path of the blast proceeding from the member 139, through the conduit 140, into the spout 128, the blast driving the cotton out of the rotatable member 130, through the spout 128 into the sack 122.

The rotatable member 130 is driven by a train of elements comprising the shaft 129, the sprocket wheel 131, the chain 132, the sprocket wheel 133, the shaft 135, the sprocket wheels 137, the chain 138, and the shaft 101 of the engine 100.

So long as the operator is standing still during the picking of the cotton, there is no.

pull on the strap 37CL and on the tongue 36a. Under such conditions, the spring 120 holds the clutch member 117 of Figure 9 out of engagement with the clutch member 149, the axle 106 remaining at rest, and the sleeve 147 rotating upon the axle responsive to the drive derived from the engine 100 through the shaft 101,. the beveledpinions 102, the shaft 103, the worm 108 and with worm wheel 107. lVhen, however, the operator exerts a pull on the strap 37n and the tongue 36a, the bell crank 110 is tilted, and the linger 115 of the bell crank, coacting with the groove 11G of the clutch member 117, advances the clutch member 117 until it engages the clutch member 149. Thereupon, rotation is imparted to the axle 106, from the engine 100 by the shaft `101, the beveled pinions 102, the shaft 103 the worm 108, the worm wheel 107, the sleeve 147 ,the clutch member 149, the clutch member 117 and the spline 118. i rIhe vehicle thereupon moves forwardly under the impulse of the engine 100, so long as the operator exerts a pull on the strap 37", but when the pull on the strap 37a is relieved, when the operator stops to pick cotton, the clutch parts are restored to the position of Figure 9, under the action of the spring 120, and the forward movement of the vehicle stops. The truck is steered in Figure 5 in the same manner as is the case with that form of the invention which is shown in Figure l.

lhat is claimed is l. In a device of the class describe-d, a truck comprising a wheelmounted frame;` a steeringvmeans for the truck, including an elevated part; and means assembled with said part for aiding in supporting the body of an operator whilst the operator is stand ing on the ground. i

2. In a device of the class described, a truck comprising a wheel-mounted framega steering means for the truck, including an elevated part; means for aiding in supporting the body of an operator whilst the operator is standing upon the ground; and a yieldable connection between the last specified means and said part.

3. In a device of the class described, a truck comprising a frame; shafts journaled on the frame; ground wheels carried by the shafts; another shaft journaled on the frame; means assembled with said other shaft for aiding in supporting the body of an operator whilst the operator is standing on the ground; and means for connecting said other shaft operatively with the firstspecified shafts, to secure a steering of the vehicle by means of the movements of the body of the operator.

V4. In a device of the class described, a truck comprising a frame including standards; shafts journaled on the standards; ground wheels carried by the shafts; a drag linkconnecting the shafts; another shaft journaled on the frame; means for connect ing said other shaft with the drag link; and means assembled with said other shaft for aiding in supporting the body of an operator whilst the operator is standing on the ground, said means being effective to impart lll) rotation to said other shaft, thereby to erlect a steering of the vehicle.

In a device of the class described, a truck including a ground Wheel; means for propelling the truck; means under the control of an operator standing` in trout of the truck for couplingl the propelling' means to the wheel; a suction conduit accessible to an operator" 'standing in front of the truck; ncchanism for creating a suction in the con duit; means for connecting said mechanism Withthe propelling means; and a receptacle on the truck, whereinto the suction conduit discharges.

G'. In a device of the class described, a truck comprising;` a ground Wheel; means for propelling the truck; means for coupling the propelling; means to the wheel,- said means embodying a member adapted to be engaged about the body ot an operator standing in front of the truck; a suction conduit; means for connecting` the suction conduit to the body of an operator and in trout ofthe truck; mechanism for creating' suction in the conduit; means for connecting; said mechanismoperatively with the propelling` means; and a receptacle on the truck, whereinto the conduit discharg; ,5.

7. In a device o1c the class described, a truck including a ground Wheel; an engine on the truck; means 'tor connecting` the engine with the ground Wheel; a clutch interposed in the last specified means; a member adapted to b-e engaged about the body of an operator standing 'in front of the truck, said member being-connected operatively to the clutch; andy suctionA means located in front of the truck and driven by the engine.

S. In a device ot the class described, a truckganeans for propelling' the truck; a suction means on the truck; mechanism adapted to bev connected to the body otE an operator standing in front of the truck, for controlling` the propelling means; and means for n'ioiniting the suction means on the body ot' an operator standing in front ot the truck.

9, In a device of; the class described. a truck; a propelling` means for the truck; mechanism adapted to 'be connected with the body of a person standing in front ot the truck for controlling the operation ot the propelling means; a header; means for conn'ecting the header with the body of a person stand-ing` in Vvfront ot the truck; a suction lube assembled with the headergfn'leans for connecting the suction tubev to the arm ot a. person standing),- in iront of the truck; and means on the truck 'for' creating suction in the header.

ln testimony that l claim the i'foregjoinmjr as my own, I have hereto aiixed'my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses.

Vitnesses HENRY E. HANAREL, J. H AZBVILL. 

